Combination potato slicer and collector



Nov. 29-, 1949 T. F. MASON 2,489,581

COMBINATION POTATO SL-ICER AND COLLECTOR Filed March 3, 1947 YINVENTOR. flzomml'mlason ATToR/wfr Patented Nov. 29, 1949 A COMBINATION POTATO SLICER AND 3 COLLECTOR Thomas F. Mason, San Francisco, Calif. f Application March 3, 1947, Serial No. 732,058

' n 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in'a combination potato slicer and collector, and its principal object is to provide a machine for spirally slicing potatoes substantially from end to end, and for collecting the spiralled slice thus formed on a receiving pin during the slicing operation whereby the continuity of the slice is preserved. I

'It is further proposed to provide a slicing machine of the character described in which the spiral slice is of uniform thickness throughout the length thereof so that all parts thereof will respond in the'sarne manner to subsequent frying or other cooking operations.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine ofthe character described that is simple and rugged in construction, easy to operate, and canbe manufactured at a relatively low cost. I g

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the specification proceeds, and the novel features of my invention will be fully defined in the claims attached hereto.

It should be understood that while my machine may find'its principal use in the slicing of potatoes it may be used for slicing many other objects of similar characteristics, such as-carrots, turnips, radishes, app1es,'pears, oranges and the like.

The-preferred form of my. invention is illus trated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 shows a side elevation of my slicing machine, with potato shown inoperative position for slicing and a second potato shown in position after the slicing operation has been completed;

Figure 2, a horizontal section taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3, a vertical section taken along line 3--3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4, a perspective detail view of a collecting pin and associated members;

Figure 5, a plan view of a potato sliced in the machine and expanded accordion style; and

Figure 6, a plan view of a portion of the sliced and expanded potato formed into a rosette.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, I wish to have it understood that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims attached hereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, my slicing machine comprises in its principal features a U-shaped frame I, a. cutting blade 2 arranged substantially in the center thereof, a screw 3 threaded into one leg of the frame and provided with means for holding a potato, and a collecting pin 4 mounted opposite the screw and in alined relation therewith.

The frame I comprises a base 5 adapted for resting on a horizontal surface, such as a table top, and twov legs 6 and I rising from the ends thereof, in spaced relation. The frame is suitably supported by means of a pair of flanges 8 project ing from the base in opposite directions.

The screw 3 is threaded into the upper end of the leg I for movement parallel to the base and is formed with a suitable operating handle 9. Its inner end has a head It mounted thereon, and a plurality of prongs I 1 project from the inner flat face of the head to receive the end of a potato l2 thereon, the latter being preferably mounted so that its main axis is in alinement with the screw.

The blade 2 extends crosswise of the frame, substantially in the center of the device and has a laterally presented vertical cutting edge I3 lying substantially in the vertical plane of the screw axis and midway over the base member 5 of the frame. It is secured upon the base member by means of a lower section l4 twisted to lie fiat against the side of the base member. The blade is preferably arranged at a slight angle to a transverse plane, as shown, the angle corresponding substantially to the angle of the thread so that.

the forward end of the potato freely rides against the blade during the slicing operation.

The upper end of the blade is formed with a" coring lip or tongue l5 having a point axiallyalined with the screw and curved in cross-section so as to core the advance end of the potato before the latter reaches the cutting blade. The coring device is dimensioned to produce a core somewhat in excess of the thickness of the collecting pin 4 so that the spiral slice may readily feed upon the collecting pin.

The latter pin is preferably pivoted on a shaft I 6 mounted in a ring I! disposed at the upper end of the leg 6 of the main frame so as to be alined with the screw when swung downward into horizontal position. When in the latter position, the front end of the pin rests in a small pocket l8 formed in the rear edge of the blade so as to steady the latter. The pin may be swung upward for removal of the sliced potato. The upper portion of the ring l'l may be slotted, as at l8, to allow greater freedom of swinging movement.

In operation, the screw 3 is first retracted to the position shown in the drawing. It is apparent 3 that any suitable conventional bearing construction may be selected, without invention, for effecting a quick return of the screw. Next the potato to be sliced is fastened upon the prongs ll, preferably with its longitudinal axis in line with the axis of the screw.

As the screw is advanced, the forward end of the potato enters upon the coring device l5 and immediately thereafter reaches the cutting blade, which upon further advances spirally slices the potato. The inclined position of the blade allows the body of the potato to freely ride against the front face thereof, while the slice is deflected by the rear face of the blade to enter upon the pin 4. As the operation is continued, the entire potato, except for a small end piece, is sliced and collected upon the pin 4 as a continuous spiral unit. The latter may be readily moved from the pin upon lifting the latter.

The final product, indicated at 20, may then be expanded, accordion style, into the form shown in Figure 5, or bent into any suitable shape, as for instance a rosette, as shown at 2| in Figure 6.

'V 1. In a potato slicer of the character described, a screw having means for attaching one end of a potato thereto, mounting means for the screw operable for advancing the same when the screw is turned, a transverse blade having a cutting edge lying substantially in the vertical center plane of the screw, and a centering pin projecting from the upper edge of the blade toward the advancing potato in axial alinement with the screw, the centering pin being tongue-shaped for coring the potato and being located for bringing the core wall into registry with the cutting edge of the blade, the blade being arranged at a slight angle to a transverse plane corresponding substantially to the pitch of the screw thread.

2. In a potato slicer of the character described, a frame having a base and two arms rising there from in spaced and opposing relation, a screw mounted in one of the arms and operable to advance upon a turning movement and having means for attaching one end of a potato thereto, a transverse blade mounted on the frame intermediate the arms and having a cutting edge lying substantially in the vertical center plane of the screw, a centering pin projecting from the upper end of the blade in axial alinement with the screw, and a collecting pin supported in the other arm in axial alinement with the screw and hav-- ing a front end bearing upon the blade behind the centering pin.

3. In a potato slicer of the character described, a frame having a base and two arms rising therefrom in spaced and opposing relation, a screw mounted in one of the arms and operable to advance upon a turning movement and having means for attaching one end of a potato thereto, a transverse blade mounted on the frame intermediate the arms, and having a cutting edge lying substantially in the vertical center plane of the screw, a centering pin projecting from the upper end of the blade in axial alinement with the screw, and a collecting pin supported in the other arm in axial alinement with the screw and having a front end bearing upon the blade behind the centering pin, the collecting pin being swingable on the supporting arm for movement of its free end away from the blade.

4. In a potato slicer of the character described,

' a frame having a base and two arms rising therefrom in spaced and opposing relation, ascrew mounted in one of the arms and operable to advance upon a turning movement and havlng means for attaching one end of a potato thereto;

a transverse blade mounted on the frame inter-' mediate the arms and having a cutting edge ly-f ing substantially in the vertical center plane of the screw, a centering pin projecting from the upper end of the blade in axial alinement with the screw, and a collecting pin supported in the other arm in axial alinement with the screw and having a front end bearing upon the blade behind,

the centering pin, the centering pin being tongueshaped for coring the potato and being located" to bring the core wall into registry with the cutting edge of the "blade.

THOMAS F. M'As'o I REFERENCES CITED 7 The following references are of record inthe file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

